Tea cutting and feeding mechanism



Dec. 12, 1950 L. F. BLACKWELL TEA CUTTING AND FEEDING MECHAIzIISM Filed March 2'7, 1947 a lIDEl INVENTOR.

A T TORNEV Patented Dec. 12, 1950 7 TEA CUTTING AND FEEDING MECHANISM Lawrence F. Blackwell, Wollaston, Mass, as-

signor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited, Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 27, 1947, Serial No. 737,658

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a tea cutting and feeding mechanism particularly adapted for use with a tea bagging machine.

The invention has fo an object to provide a novel and improved tea cutting and feeding mechanism adapted for cooperation with a tea bagging machine and in which provision is made for cutting or breaking a supply of uncut tea to a size suitable for packaging and for feeding the cut tea in a substantially uniform and continuous stream to be delivered to the tea bagging mechanism.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the tea cutting and feeding mechanism and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In practice, the bulk tea as received by the tea packer comprises dried tea leaves of varying lengths, many of which may be one inch or more in length and such uncut tea is unsuitable for handling in tea baggingmachines. Prior to the present invention it was necessary to cut or break u the tea leaves into smaller lengths before introducing it into the tea feeding hopper in order to conveniently feed a uniform stream of the tea and also to permit the tea tolbe packaged in relatively small individual packages.

The present invention contemplates novel apparatus adapted for use in receiving a bulk supply of uncut tea, for cutting or breaking the same and then feeding the cut tea to the tea bagging machines. Provision is also preferably made in the present tea cutting and feeding apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of the tea cutting unit in-accordance with the accumulated supply of cut tea and discontinuing the operation of the cuttingunit when a predetermined supply of the cut tea has accumulated and for again starting the cutting unit in operation after a predetermined time has elapsed. In operation during successive intervals when the tea cutting unit is not in operation, the supply of cut tea is gradually withdrawn as it is fed to the tea bagging machine, so that an over accumulation of cut tea is avoided while insuring an ample supply to produce a continuous feed to the tea bagging machine.

Referring now to the drawings, the present tea cutting and feeding mechanism is herein illustrated as mounted on a platen l forming part of a tea bagging machine, which may comprise any of the commercial tea bagging machines now upon the market such as the pouch type tea bagging machine illustrated and described in the patent to Doble No. 1,725,066, patented August 27, 1929, or,

the envelope type tea bagging machine illustrated and described in the patent to Patterson No. 2,361,052, October 24, 1944.

As herein illustrated the present tea cutting and feeding mechanism comprises a tea cutting unit, indicated generally at 2 arranged to cut or break up a bulk supply of the uncut tea contained in a supply hopper I4 and to discharge the cut tea into a second hopper 16 from which the tea is withdrawn by a tea feeding unit indicated generally at I8. The tea feeding unit it includes a rotatable feeding tube 28, preferably of the worm screw type, disposed at the lower end of the hopper l6, arranged to effect withdrawal of a continuous uniform stream of the cut tea and to deposit the stream into a guide funnel 22 arranged to guide the tea into the forming and filling tube of the tea baggingmechanism, not shown. The end of the feeding tube 20 extending within the hopper I6 is preferably provided with an elongated V-shaped slotted portion 24 arranged to permit the tea to freely enter the tube and to elfect a substantially uniform withdrawal therefrom. As herein illustrated, the hoppers l4 and I6 are preferably formed integrally to provide an upper chamber l5 for the uncut tea and a lower chamber I! for the cut tea, the cutting rollers 40, 42 being disposed between the chambers to receive the uncut tea from the upper chamber and to discharge the cut tea into the lower chamher to be withdrawn by the rotatable feeding tube 20. The term cutting as herein employed in the specifications and claims is intended to include either cutting, breaking, separating or dividing the relatively long tea leaves, as received by the packer, into relatively shorter lengths suitable for use in a tea bagging machine.

The feeding tube 23 may and preferably will be continuously rotated through connections from the tea bagging machine which includes a drive shaft 26 having a bevel gear 28 cooperating with a bevel gear 35 fast on the tube 20. The hopper It may also be provided with the usual rotatable stirrers 32 for maintaining the tea in a loose and free flowing condition, and, the bottom of the hopper may be provided with a slidable closure 34 for use when it is desired to entirely empty the hopper.

The tea cutting unit l2, as herein shown, comprises a pair of cooperating rollers 40, 42 provided with a plurality of radially and laterally spaced semi-circular grooved portions 44 form- 3 ing in eifect a plurality of cooperating toothed portions 35 arranged to press the tea passing therebetween from the supply hopper. The dried and relatively brittle tea leaves are thus broken up to a size suitable for packaging and particularly for tea bagging purposes. The radially and laterally spaced disposition of the grooved portions id effects breakin-gof the uncut tea assing therebetween in either a horizontal, vertical or diagonal position. A V-shaped guide bar t? disposed between the entrance to the rollers 49, 32 is arranged to guide and contrdl the new of uncut tea. passing between the cutting rollers to prevent jamming thereof.

The tea cutting or breaking rollers are I also arranged to be rotated through connections from the tea bagging machine, and as herein shown the drive shaft 26 is provided withachain and sprocket drive 48 to one member 50 of a clutch unit, the member 50 being rotatably mounted on a ,shaft52 upon which the cutting roller 42 is mounted. The second member 541 of the clutchunit may be slidably keyed to the shaft 52 and is arranged to be shifted into and out of cooperation with the member Si] by an arm 56 pivotally mounted in a bracket 58 attached to the hopper. The other end of the shaft 52 is provided with a gear 60 cooperating with a gear 62 fast on the shaft 64 en which the roller 352 is mounted whereby to effect sinmiltaneou's rotation of the rollersAII and in opposite directions.

Provision is made for starting andstoppingthe cutting rollers 40, 42 in accordancewith the deg mand for but tea in the hopper I6 and, as herein showna cam operated feeler plate 66 disposed within the hopper and pivotally mounted on a shaft ears arranged to be rocked into and out of feeling position and into engagement with the cut tea when the latter reaches a predetermined or maximum level in the hopper I6. feeler plate 66 is rocked by a cam fast on a shaft I2 arranged to 'be driven from the bevel gear 38 on the feeding tube 20 by a cooperating bevel gear 14 als'ofast on the shaft I2. One arm of a ten crank pivotallym'ounted at 18 is provided with'a roller 80 cooperating with the cam 70 and the 'secon'darm 82 of the bell crank is connected by a yil'dable connection including a link84 to an arm 86-fast0n the feeler plate shaft 68. As herein shown, the lower end of the link 85 is slidable in the arm 82 and is provided with a collar 88 for engagement by the arm to effect upward rockin of the ie'eler plate I56. A spring 90 coiled about the "link 84 'andinterpose'd between the arm 82 and a second collar'92 effects a yieldable rocking of the Lfee'ler plate against the top of the accumulated supply of cut tea in the hopperIB. A spring 94 is arranged to urge theroller 80 against its cam I0.

In order to discontinue the operation of the cutting rollers 40, 42 when the supply of cut tea hasreached a predetermined maximum height in thehopper i6, as detected by the feeler plate 66. controlmechanism is provided including an electrical circuit I09 havi'nga pair of contacts IDZJM attached to the. arm 82 and the collarv 92 respectively. The contacts I02, I6 are normally separated by'virtue' of the interposed sprin 95! erate an air valve H0 connected to any suitable source of compressed air by a tube I I2. A second tube I I4 is connected to an air cylinder I I5 having a piston II6 connected to the clutch shifter arm 56. A spring II8 connected to the arm 55 tends to urge the clutch member 54 in a direction to disengage the clutch and the piston I I6 is arranged to urge the clutch member 54 into operative engagement with the clutch member 59.

. With this construction it will be seen that in permitting the spring I I 8 to effect disengagement and are arranged to be closed when the f'e'eler 1 of the clutch. Since the engagement of the contacts I02, I04 is only instantaneous, the 'tim'e delay relay I06 serves to maintainthe circuit to the solenoid closed for a predetermined length of time, during which time the tea is bein withdrawn from the hopper, whereupon the circuit is again opened at the relay to again 'perrn'ititlie rollers to start and to continue in operation uritil the circuit III!) is again closed through the contacts I02, I64, as described. I

From the above description it will be observed that the present tea cutting and feeding inch anism is particularly adapted for use with a t-ea bagging machine and that the provision'of a cutting unit in the mechanism permits the uncut tea leaves as received by the packer to be de: posited directly intc the mechanism to be brokn up to a size suitable to befe'd and handled in commercial tea bagging machines and to be pack;- aged in relatively small individualcontainer's. In

practice, it is desirable "that the size of the cut tea leaves be approximately from one-eighth to one-quarter inches in length. 1

While the preferred embodiment of the inven- ,tion has been herein illustrated and described, 1 'it will be understood that the inventioninay be embodied in other forms within the scope of "the following'claim's.

Having thus described the invention. what'is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a hopperioricontaininga bulk supply of uncut tea, tea cutting rollers associated with said hopp'enia second'hopper communicating with said first hopper'and arranged to re .ceive the cut tea discharged by said "cutting rollers, means for continuously withdrawing an'd feedinglthe cut tea from said second hopper, and means for controlling the operation ofsaid'cutting'rollers in accordance with thesupplyof'cut tea in said second hQpper, said control means including a cam-operated feeler plate arranged to berestrained in it movement by engagement with the top of the accumulated pile of material in .said second hopper, and means. oper-atively connected to said feeler, plate for terminating the operation of said cutting rollers when the feeler plate is thus restrained.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, "a hopper for containing a bulk supply of uncut tea leaves, a "pair of cooperatin'g cuttirig rollers associated with said'h'opp'er and arranged to e'ifec'tibre'aking up of the unciit tea leaves into relatively's'maller lengths'asit passes between the rollers, a secona'hcp'per commiinicating with said firsthopper' ahdintb the cut tea is discharged, ing rotary feeding tube associated with said second hopper for withdrawing and feeding the cut tea leaves therefrom, and control means for discontinuing the operation of said cutting rollers when said second hopper is filled to a predetermined maximum height, said control means including a cam-operated feeler plate arranged to be restrained in its movement by engagement with the top of the accumulated pile of material in said second hopper, and means operatively connected to said feeler plate for terminating the operation of said cutting rollers when the feeler plate is thus restrained, said last named means having provision for again starting the rollers in operation after a predetermined time has elapsed.

3. A tea feeding and cutting mechanism adapt ed for use in a tea bagging machine comprising, in combination, a hopper having an upper chamber for containing a bulk supply of uncut tea and a lower chamber for containing the cut tea, a pair of rotary cutting rollers disposed between the upper and lower chambers of said hopper for breaking up the tea passing between the rollers from the upper chamber and for discharging the tea into the lower chamber, means for continuously withdrawing and feeding the cut tea from said lower chamber, driving means for said rollers, and means for controlling the operation of said cutting rollers in accordance with the supply of cut tea in said lower chamber, said control means including a feeler plate arranged to be restrained in its movement when it engage the top of the pile of cut tea in said lower chamber, pneumatically operated means arranged to efiect engagement and disengagement of said driving means, and a solenoid operated air valve arranged to be opened when the feeler arm is restrained to effect disengagement of said driving means for a predetermined time interval.

4. A tea feeding and cutting mechanism adapted for use in a tea bagging machine comprising, in combination, a hopper having an upper chamber for containing a bulk supply of uncut tea and a lower chamber for containing the cut tea, a pair of rotary cutting rollers disposed between the upper and lower chambers of said hopper for breaking up the tea passing between the rollers from the upper chamber and for discharging the tea into the lower chamber, and means for continuously withdrawing and feeding th cut tea from said lower chamber, drive means including a shaft operatively connected to said withdrawing and feeding means and said cutting rollers and including a clutch for said cutting rollers, and means for controlling the operation of said cutting rollers in accordance with the height of the cut tea accumulated in said lower chamber, including a cam-operated feeler plate rockingly mounted in said lower chamber and arranged to be restrained in its movement when it engages the top of the pile of cut tea in said lower chamber, and connections between said feeler plate and said clutch for eifecting disengagement of the latter to discontinue the operation of said cutting rollers when the feeler plate is thus restrained.

5. A tea feeding and cutting mechanism adapted for use in a tea bagging machine comprising, in combination, a hopper having an upper chamber for containing a bulk supply of uncut tea and a lower chamber for containing the cut tea, a pair of rotary cutting rollers disposed between the upper and lower chambers of said hopper for breaking up the tea passing between the rollers a continuously operatfrom the upper chamber and for discharging the tea into the lower chamber, and means for with-- drawing and feeding the cut tea from said lowerchamber, drive means including a shaft opera tively connected to said withdrawing and feeding means and said cutting rollers and including a clutch for said cutting rollers, and means for controlling the operation of said cutting rollers in accordance with. the height of the cut tea accumu-:

lated in said lower chamber, including a feeler plate rockingly mounted in said lower chamber and arranged to be restrained in its movement when it engages the top of the pile of cut tea in said lower chamber, and connections between: said feeler plate and said clutch for effecting. disengagement of the latter to discontinue the? operation of said cutting rollers when the feeler plate is thus restrained, said connections includ-' ing an electrical circuit having a pair of contacts arranged to be closed when said feeler plate is restrained in its downwardly rocked movement by:

the pile of tea, an air cylinder having a piston when said contacts are closed.

6. A tea feeding and cutting mechanism adapted for use in a tea bagging machine comprising,

in combination, a hopper having an upper cham-- ber for containing a bulk supply of uncut tea and a lower chamber for containing the cut tea, a pair of rotary cutting rollers disposed between the upper and lower chambers of said hopper for breaking up the tea passing between the rollers from the upper chamber and for discharging the tea into the lower chamber, and means for withdrawing and feeding the cut tea from said lower chamber, drive means including a shaft operatively connected to said withdrawing and feeding means and said cutting rollers and including a clutch for said cutting rollers, and means for controlling the operation of said cutting rollers in accordance with the height of the cut tea accumulated in said lower chamber, including a feeler plate rockingly mounted in said lower chamber and arranged to be restrained in its movement when it engages the top of the pile of cut tea in said lower chamber, and connections between said feeler plate and said clutch for effecting disengagement of the latter to discontinue the operation of said cutting rollers when the feeler plate is thus restrained, said connections including an electrical circuit having a pair of contacts arranged to be closed when said feeler plate is restrained in its downwardly rocked movement by the pile of tea, an air cylinder having a piston operatively connected to said clutch, and a solenoid operated air valve arranged to be actuated to discontinue the operation of said cutting rollers when said contacts are closed, said electrical circuit also including a time delay relay adapted to open said circuit to permit operation of said cutting rollers after a predetermined time has elapsed.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination: a hopper for containing a bulk supply of uncut material; a pair of cooperating cutting rollers associated with said hopper and arranged to eifect breaking up of the uncut material into relatively smaller pieces as it passes between the rollers; a second hopper disposed below said cutting rollers and into which the cut material is discharged from said rollers; driven means for withdrawing the cut materia1 from said second hopper; means for continuously driving said mam 7 tzer ial "withdrawing means and said euttm'g rollers'; "and :means responsive 1:0 the accunmlation of #a. zpred'etermined hei'ghtlof rcut material 1 in said secbml keeper for disabling the drive In" TSQEifl cutting rollers without 'intenrupting th'e driving of saidlmaterial withdrawing means.

device as defined in claim .7, which the disabling means includes a timing element for automatically maintaining the driving :sf :said cufiting -ro1lers interrupted for a fixed period .aof time iindependentzof the ameunt of mateziiahwithdrawn'from saidsse'cond vhopper.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination: adho'pper for containing aibulkv supp13, iOf uncut material; apairnf cooperating cutting rollers associated wifihsaid hopper :and mra'nge'd to efie'ct breaking up of the uncut material 2 into relatively smaller pieces as it 1passes1between the rollers; a second .hopper disposed below isaid cutting rollers and :into which :the nut 20 Number Name Date 176,281 Cochrane and Hendy Apr. 18,1875 1686A35 Chance V- Oct. :2, 1928 1,967,;022 @Chand1er July :17, 1193.4 2;059 ;51-4 Frediani Nov. .3, ,2;235;928 Hardinge iMar. :25,'19&1 2,286,,'585 Simpson .June :16, 71952 2;408;221 iMichel ;Sept. 24,1946

FOREIGN PATENTS 25 Number Country Date rupt the idniving nf said cuttingmlleraeaid last mentioned :means including a time delay element for automatically maintaining :sard :cluteh :diseengaged :tor a predetermined time interval while said material withdrawing means is 'vr'ithdrawmg materialafroimsaid second-hopper.

LAWRENCE BLAEKWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The -foll0wing references are of record in the file 0f this patent":

UNITED STATES PATENTS ance pr- 9, 3 1 

